The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Winkelbury

Hillfort

Folklore

Another version of the folklore:
OLD THORN-TREES (clxxxvi. 106, 129). In the parish of Berwick-St.-John, there was an old encampment with a tumulus in the centre and on this tumulus there used to be an old thorn scrag, which was cut down by the then owner and used as firewood.
Thereupon, a blight visited the whole village : no cow would have a calf, no duck nor chicken would lay an egg, and no woman would have a baby. This state of affairs continued for about three years, until a petition from the villagers was sent to the man who cut down the old scrag.

On hearing the complaint, he said, "Oh, I'll plant another thorn-tree." This he promptly did. Whereupon, every cow had a calf, ducks and chicken laid eggs and every female had a baby within six months. Wonderful—but true!
JOHN BENETT-STANFORD.
From Notes and Queries 186 (7): 166. (1944). Online at
http://nq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/186/7/166-c.pdf
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
14th August 2006ce
Edited 14th August 2006ce

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